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Parents Association News And Events October 3, 2024

October 3, 2024

MPA PAWPThank you! With a full month under our belt, the 2024-2025 school year has already been rich with community connections. Thank you for showing up in support of the MPA school community through Back To School events, Quarterly Coffees, Faculty & Staff Appreciation, affinity groups, and more. All parents and guardians are an integral part of this school and we look forward to further connections in October!

Panther Sports Committee Kickoff Meeting!
Saturday, October 12, from 10 AM-12 PM
Porter Conference Room

Everyone is welcome! Please email Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org for more info.

Upcoming MPA PA Events

  • October 4: MPA PA Board Meeting, 8 AM, PA Room
  • October 10-11: Faculty & Staff Appreciation, hosted by the PA Staff Appreciation Committee
  • October 12: Panther Sports Committee Kickoff Meeting, 10 AM-12 PM, PCR
  • October 16: LS Rainbow Club Meeting, 6 PM, MPA Library
  • October 26: Community Coffees, 10 AM-12 PM, multiple locations
  • October 31: Lower School Grade Level Halloween Parties, 8:30 AM-2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center

Preparing Students For A New Workplace

October 3, 2024

Headsmessage

There’s a current TikTok trend that involves high school teachers reading emails that they’ve received from their students out loud. They often start with “Hey,” or “Whatsup,” if they contain a salutation. And let’s just say that rarely do they close with a “Thank you.”

While perhaps entertaining, this trend illustrates a disheartening disparity in how young people are being prepared for the workplace of the future. Rapidly changing trends and expectations shape how progressive independent schools like Mounds Park Academy equip students with essential workplace skills for life beyond the four walls of a classroom.

The trend popped into the head of admission and communications director Natalie Waters Seum recently, when she was chatting a newer MPA student. They were talking about how she might navigate the academic bumps in the road that will inevitably come in a rigorous college-prep school. Natalie encouraged her to reach out to her teacher for clarification and support and asked her if she knew how to do that well. While it shouldn’t have been, her response was pleasantly surprising. She retold with great detail what she had learned during the “How To Write An Email To A Teacher” lesson in Mr. Dean’s ninth-grade seminar class. The lesson covers topics such as formal letter structure, salutations, tone, attachments, and more. Notably, the lesson also teaches MPA students to share the solutions they’ve already tried—helping encourage them to take responsibility for their own academic journeys. This lesson is one of the hundreds of ways that MPA intentionally prepares MPA students for a new workplace daily. Read More

Parents Association News And Events September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

PAWP

In case you are wondering, the last few weeks we mentioned how the MPA PA builds community through coffee. Here are some more details on upcoming Division-level Quarterly Coffees.

Middle School Quarterly Coffee on September 27, 8-9 AM, PCR: Meet & Greet with Paul Errickson, Middle School director! Socialize with fellow parents and learn about fall happenings and MAP Testing in the Middle School.

Lower School Quarterly Coffee on October 1, 8-9 AM, Gallery: Meet & Greet with Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director! Connect with fellow parents while learning more about the new MAP Testing.

Upper School Quarterly Coffee on October 1, 8-9 AM, PCR: Meet & Greet with Mark Segal, Upper School director, for conversation and updates regarding the Upper School cell phone policy and fall events, and we’ll have special guests from our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy, in Shenzhen, China.

MPA Merch Pop-Up Shop This Saturday!

The Parents Association is hosting a pop-up shop during homecoming in the Lansing Center. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, and hats will be available from 9 AM-12 PM. Show your Panther Pride at the games!

Upcoming Events

  • September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Porter Conference Room
  • October 1: LS Quarterly Coffee, 8:15-9 AM, MPA Gallery
  • October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR

Coming Home

September 26, 2024

Heads Messagefrom Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I’m old enough to remember those nostalgic Folgers coffee commercials in which a son surprises his family by coming home for the holidays. The warmth, laughter, and love conveyed in those moments brought home the idea that “home” is far more than just a physical place—it’s about the emotions, traditions, and connections we share with one another. That commercial tugged at my heartstrings every time, often bringing a tear to my eye.

Within families, traditions arise and are celebrated, nurturing emotions of acceptance that go beyond the concept of a home as a physical or geographical location. Likewise, Homecoming at MPA has a distinctive meaning as a PreK-12 school. Throughout this week, students of all ages have shown their school spirit in countless ways. From the annual Lower School coloring project and the Homecoming-themed CHAMP Assembly to Middle School poster-making and Upper School dress-up days, the energy has been palpable. Our student-athletes have even been greeting everyone with a smile outside door one each morning. The week culminates with a pep fest tomorrow and athletic contests and activities on Saturday, September 28, and all students, regardless of their grade level, are warmly invited to attend and celebrate together.

Merriam-Webster defines homecoming as “the act of returning to your home or to a place that is like your home.” At MPA, we often refer to our school as a second home—a place where both students and adults are known and valued. This sense of belonging is deeply embedded in our school’s DNA, and it is a crucial element of who we are. Research consistently shows that emotional safety and a strong sense of community are essential for personal growth and academic success.

Read More

Lower School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

LS Division Newsfrom Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director 

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day (LS students wear uniform bottoms)
  • Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
  • Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
  • Tuesday, October 1: LS Parent Coffee, 8-9 AM, Gallery
  • Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
  • Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
  • Wednesday, October 9: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
  • Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, Panther Care >
  • Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8 AM-3 PM, information here >
  • Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day Performance, 11 AM-12 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Wednesday, October 16: LS PA Rainbow Club, 6-8 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
  • Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break, Panther Care >

It’s been a busy but fun few weeks since our last Panther Post. This is the point that we are almost finished with the “first six weeks of school,” a crucial time for children as they solidify the new routines and expectations that come along with a new academic year. Routines require a particular set of characteristics for children to be most developmentally supportive: predictability and accessibility. Children benefit from relationships and environments that are predictable to them. Routines like the process of getting ready for school, the daily schedule of fun activities encountered at school, and evening settling-down routines at home help children:

  • feel in control of their environment;
  • feel safe, secure, and comfortable;
  • know what is happening now and what comes next;
  • know how to do an activity or task; and
  • engage in learning.

Soon, these new routines will become second nature, equipping your child for success with the rest that the year has in store!

Read More

Upper School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

US Division Newsfrom Mark Segal, Upper School director 

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
  • Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard
  • Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
  • Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
  • Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
  • Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
  • Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
  • Friday, October 4: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, MS & US Classrooms
  • Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
  • Wednesday, October 9: US Cum Laude Program, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, October 9: US PSAT Testing, 8 AM-3 PM
  • Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
  • Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
  • Wednesday, October 16: Grade 9 Special Programming, 8-3 PM, Off Campus
  • Wednesday, October 16: Grades 10 & 11 Pre-ACT & Mock ACT Practice Tests, 8 AM-12 PM (early dismissal)
  • Wednesday, October 16: Grade 12 No Classes, Time Set Aside for College Applications and College Visits
  • Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break

With Homecoming season upon us, we are approaching a fun and exciting time for students and their families. I find myself reflecting on the possibility of Upper School students being placed into situations where they may have to make difficult decisions, and I want to send this letter to ask you to do all that you can to make it a happy and safe time for your child. Nothing is more valuable to teenagers than their friends, and nothing is more valuable to parents than the safety of their children. Unfortunately, these two don’t always interact well with one another. Statistically, Homecoming weekend has been one of the most dangerous in a high school student’s life. Each year, we lose far too many teenagers to motor vehicle crashes, with an increase in intoxicant-related traffic fatalities on Homecoming Dance Night. Accidents (especially automobile crashes) are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15-19, and the reality is that many of those deaths are caused by teenage impaired or distracted driving. Sometimes, even the best kids encounter situations where alcohol and drug use occur, and our children could find themselves in an environment with unexpected expectations. As a parent or guardian, you have the opportunity and responsibility to help ensure the safety of your children and others by helping them make the right choices.

Read More

Middle School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

MS Division Newsfrom Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars 

  • Friday, September 27: MS G5/6 MAP Testing
  • Friday, September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
  • Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
  • Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
  • Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
  • Monday, September 30-Wednesday, October 2: MS G8 Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip
  • Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
  • Wednesday, October 2: MS G7 & New G8 Signs of Suicide Screening
  • Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
  • Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, Panther Care >
  • Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
  • Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8 AM-3 PM, information here >
  • Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day Performance, 11 AM-12 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break, Panther Care >

From helping students learn how to open their lockers and navigate Schoology to setting them into classroom routines, getting the school year up and running takes quite an effort.

Over the past two weeks (and into next week for our eighth graders), we have gotten to know many of our Middle School students through two diverse ways. With the fifth and sixth grade overnight trips, many of our faculty joined our students on hikes, in treetops, and even for a “polar plunge.” Teachers got to know students, students got to know them, and everyone got to know each other better. Through laughter and tears, smores and snores, our students were challenged in various ways, and their teachers and classmates were there to support them and help them learn from these meaningful experiences. You can see some of the actions captured by our teachers on the school’s Flickr page.

The experiences that our students have on these trips helps us to talk with them about stepping out of their comfort zones, challenging themselves, and supporting others. They also serve as metaphors for ways to take on challenges in the classroom, such as how scaling the climbing wall, one hold at a time, helps us to tackle a big project or homework load or how the team building needed for a group to orient through an unknown forest might encourage students to look to a peer for help when feeling lost or needing a friend. We are already reaping the rewards of this experience as we notice new friendships, new feelings of connection, and increased empathy.

Next week, our eighth graders will have their overnight trip to Wolf Ridge in Finland, MN; I’m excited to join and ask them to think about leadership skills and legacy as they spend their final year in Middle School. Read More

Discover Something Remarkable At The MPA Preview

September 24, 2024

Lower School students working in art class togetherDiscover something remarkable at the PreK-12 MPA Preview on Sunday, November 3, 12:30-2 PM!

MPA Previews are signature PreK-12 events designed to introduce you to the faculty, students, and families who make MPA the exceptional learning community that it is. These events are for family members of all ages to attend together andwill include division-specific time.

You’ll hear from a variety of perspectives, be engaged in conversation with academic leaders, experience mini-lessons taught by expert teachers, and leave with a much better understanding of the MPA way.
Taste of Ninth Grade logo
Prospective ninth graders, you’re invited to the Taste of Ninth Grade immediately preceding the Preview at 11 AM. Join us for lunch and the opportunity to learn more about MPA’s ninth-grade program. Students will engage in a hands-on, collaborative activity while parents participate in a Q&A about life in MPA’s Upper School, college counseling, and more. When this event concludes, students and families will then join the PreK-12 Preview event.

RSVP today to experience the joy and discover why Mounds Park Academy is an exceptional place to learn and grow.

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